Mask for automobile-lamps.



H. D. PENNEY & G. A. WEED.

MASK FOR AUTOMOBILE LAMPS.

APPLIGATIOD FILED JULY 9,1909.

1,013,895. Patented Jan. 9,1912.

Hamid B P nne To all whom 'it may concern:

UNITED usmrrns PATEN orrion.

HAROLD PENNEY, OF PELHAM, AND CHESTER A. WEED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' N IASK FOR AUTOMOBILE-LAMPS.

Be it known that we, HAROLD D. PENNEY a citizen of the United States, residing .at Pelham, .inthe county of Westchester. and State of New York, and CHESTER AIWEED,

a citizen of the United States,-residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Masks for Automobile-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

I This invention relates to improved means for preventing the glare of head lights and search lights of. motor vehicles, the object of the invention being to provide animproved mask having means in position to effectively mask and intercept the upward rays of light thereby toprevent the blinding Y glare of the lamp from bewildering pedestrians and drivers of approaching vehicles while permitting the effective passage of the downward rays, and which improvement Wlll be simple in' construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved mask shiftable into position in front of the lamp or away therefrom as occasion may require, .and

which operation may be effected, in one form of the device, from the seat of the vehicle. The present application is an improvement in art on the mask shown in application Serial No. 492,964, filed April 29,1909, by H.-D. Penney.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor vehicle lamp with this improvedlight ray intercepting means attached in position in front. thereof, the motorvehicle lamp being shown supported by the ordinary bracket; Fig. 2 is a .front view .of the structure shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating in dotted lines the mask swung toone side; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the maskdetached; .Fig. ,4 is a perspective viewof. the structure shown in Fig 1, but. illustrating the mask supported for swinging movement. fromthe seat of the vehicle; Fig. 5 isa front view of a motor vehicle with a pair of. these maskssupported in position the. manner shown in Fig. 4; and Fig.6 is'a perspective view of the front of. a inotor vehicle illustrating "the lamp brackets and the mask in position in front thereof, and means connectedto the Specification of letter Patent. Application filed July 9, 1909. Serial No. 508,788.

' Patented Jan. 9 11 M2.

v dashboard of the vehicle for shifting the 1nask.-

Smn'lar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures of the drawings.

Owingl to the blinding glare of motor vehicle ead lights and search lights, due to the, upward rays of light, it is desirable that some means be provided which will eliminate the dan erous effects of such light rays by interceptmg them without destroying the power of'the light. It is also desirable at times in a device of this kind to be able to shift the light ray intercepting means away from'the front of the lamp so as to use the full power of the light, as for instance .when it is desired to read a sign board along the.road or when coming to the bottom of a hill, and in the prior application'hereinbefore referred to this is accomplished by providing a series of shiftable louvers or members. In the present improvement, however, the louvers are shown as fixed, while the mask as a whole is shiftable to a position in front of or away from the front of the lamp, itbeing also so sup ported in the present improvement that it is entirely independent of the lamp, whereby the glass of the lamp may be readily cleaned without the necessity of detaching the mask from the lamp and whereby also the structure is very much simplified, so that the cost of. production is reduced.

In the present improvement the mask is so formed thatit may be shifted by the operator eitherlfrom the seat of the vehicle or by going to the front of the vehicle. In the present embodiment of this improvement the mask is attached in front of the lamp body, in front of the front glass or door, but in such position that it'is entirely independent. ofthe lamp. It is to be understood that the lamp body may be of any desired form, and that the improvement does not require any change in the form of lamps as now manufactured. In fact, in the presthe form shown comprises simply a disk 10,

which may be formed of a spun rim 11 having a reinforced or wired edge 12 to which the louvers 13 may be separately riveted or connected in some suitable manner; or this mask may be made by having the louvers stamped or punched out from a disk which may have its edge reinforced, if nec-' essary, in any suitable manner; or the louvers may be ormed from a disk and riveted to a spun rim in any suitable manner. Each of these louvers 13, of which a plurality is shown, preferably a sufficient number thereof being provided to properly intercept the upward rays of light without interfering with the downward rays, comprises a slat so located that itis normally downwardly inclined. These louvers are located in parallelism one above another from side to side of the rim.

The mask made up in the manner described is located in front of the lamp in any suitable manner. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 it is mounted on a forwardly projecting stud or bracket 14; secured in any suitable way to the lamp fork or bracket 15, as by being made inte a1 therewith or formed separately there rom and clamped thereto. The forward end of this stud or projection 14 is flattened off at its under 18 carried by an arm 19 secured to the underside of the mask. On the release of this thumb-nut the mask may be shifted to one side or the other and away from the front of the lamp and then clamped or held in such position, for which purpose the stud has its two opposed sides flattened, as at 20 and 21.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the stud is shown provided with a laterally extending arm 22 one end of which is connected by a spring 23 with the arm of the mask, asuitable stop 24 being provided, formed on the arm of the mask, for engaging this laterally extending arm thereby to limit the action of the spring and hold the mask in the proper position in front of the lamp.

Connected to ears 25, one secured to each mask, is a suitable flexible member such as a wire 26, leading from the mask to the dash board of the vehicle and guided by suitable pulleys so located as to properly guide the wires, one of these guiding devices being shown at the lower or underside of the radiator or front of the car and another at the rear underside of the hood of the vehicle. The opposite end of the wire is connected to a lever 28 provided with a spring controlled pawl 29 in position to cooperate with a notched sector 30, whereby when the pawl is in engagement with one of the notches the springs of the masks will hold them in position in front of the lamp. When, however, it is desired to shift the masks away from the front of the lamps the lever on the dash board is actuated. to bring the pawl into position to engage the other notch of the sector, whereupon the masks will be shifted in the manner indicated and held against the action of the springs, such springs acting to return the masks to their normal light-masking position when the pawl is released. Thus it will be observed that the springs not only act to return the masks to their upright positions, but hold the same in such positions, .and that the wires 26 and the shiftable means connected therewith on the dashboard not only act to draw the masks away from the front of the lamp, but hold them in such position until manually released.

Thus by the present improvement we are able to provide a mask which may be utilized without attaching it to the lamp or forming it as a part thereof,'but which may be shiftable away from the front of the lamp to permit the full power of the light to be used as occasion may require, While at the same. time it may also be shiftable to permit the lamp to be cleaned without the necessity of detaching the mask therefrom. Thus we avoid, in the present improvement, the necessity of pivotally mounting the louvers or slats. The mask not only acts to intercept the light rays, but also to protect the glass front of the lamp from injury from stones or other projectiles.

If desired the under surface of the light ray intercepting members or louvers may be made as reflecting surfaces by silvering or' nickel plating them, so that the upward rays of light may, to a large extent, be also deflected downwardly on the road.

It will, of course, be understood that the various details may be more or less modified without departing from the spirit or scope of this improvement.

In practice it will be observed that the mask may be readily detached from its bracket if for any purpose this is desirable, by simply releasing the thumb-screw and slipping ofi the mask. It will also be observed that by clamping the mask to the lamp bracket it can be raised or lowered on such bracket a reasonable distance, thus to adjust it up or down in front of the lamp, and be clamped in such position by a thumbscrew 31. It can also be, by means of the thumb-screw 17 hereinbefore referred to, adjusted toward and from the front of the lamp, in other words, spaced more or less therefrom should occasion require.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a mask supported substantially in a perpendicular position relatively to and exteriorly and in front of and spaced from such lamp and constructed to permit the passage of the light therethrough 1 ably supported substantially in a perpendicular osition relatively to and exteriorly and in ront of and spacedfrom such lamp and constructed to permit the passage of the light therethrough and having normally 1 stationary, downwardly projecting means for preventing the escape of the upwardly projecting rays .of light and thereby the glare of the lamp, and means for supporting the mask in any of its shifted positions.

3. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a shiftable mask shiftbl supported exteriorly and in front of and spaced from such lamp and constructed to permit the passage of the light there- 2 through and having downwardly projecting means for preventing the escape of the upwardly projecting rays of light and thereby the glare of the lamp, means for supporting the mask in any of its shifted positions, and

means for shifting said mask sidewise from the front of the lamp.

4. The combination, with a lamp of the class described of a shiftable mask shiftably supported exteriorly and in front of and spaced from such lamp and having openings and means thereover for preventing the 'escape of the upward rays of light and thereby the glare of the lamp, means for supporting the mask in any of its shifted posi- 40 tions, means for shifting said mask away.

from the front of the lamp, and means for returning said mask to its initial position.

5 The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a mask supported exteriorly and in front of and independently of the lamp and comprising a disk having a plurality of normally downwardly inclined louvers for preventing the glare of the lamp, and means for supporting the mask in such position.

6. The combination with a lamp of the class described,'of a shiftable mask shiftably supported exteriorly and in front of and independently of the lamp and comprising a disk having a plurality 'of normally downwardly inclined louvers for preventing the glare of the lamp, and means forsupporting the mask in any of its shifted positions.

7. The combination with a lamp ofthe class described, of a shiftable mask shiftably supported exteriorly and in front of and independently of the lamp and comprising a disk having a plurality of-normally downwardly inclined louversfor preventing the glare of the lamp, means fori'sup orting the mask in any of its shifted positions, means for shifting saidmask away from the front of the lamp, and means for returning .it to its initial position.

.8. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a shiftable mask shiftably supported exteriorly and in front of and spaced from the lamp and comprising a disk having a plurality of normally downwardly inclined louvers or preventing the glare of supported exteriorly and in front of and spaced from'the lamp and comprising adisk having a plurality of normally downwardly inclined louvers for preventing the glare of the lamp, means for supporting the .mask in any of its shifted positionsgmeans for shifting the mask away from the front of the lamp and operative at a relatively re-' mote point therefrom, and a spring connected with the mask and with a fixed partlocated adjacent to the mask for returning it to its initial position. 10. The combination with class described, of a mask supported exteriorly and in front of and spaced from the lamp and comprising a flat disk-shaped member terminating in a rim in the plane'of the body of such member having a series of v normally downwardly inclined louvers lo cated in parallelism from side to side of the mask, one above another for preventing the glare of the lamp, and means for supporting the mask in such position.

11. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of a detachable and'edgewise swinging mask supported exteriorly and in front of the lamp and having normally stationary downwardly projecting means for preventing the glare of the lamp, and means for supporting the mask in such position.

12. The combination with a lamp of the class described, of amask adapted to ermit the passage of a portion of the light but having means for reventing the glare of the lamp, means or supporting said mask exteriorly of and spaced from. said lamp, said mask being shiftable on said supporting means to or out of the beam pro ected from the lamp, and means for holding said mask in either of its shifted positions.

13. The combination with a lamp bracket for a lamp of the class described, of a mask constructed to permit the passage of the light therethrough and having down .wardly projecting means for preventing the a lamp of the ositions either into and secured to said bracket exteriorly an in front of the lamp, and means for shifting said mask awa from the lamp.

15. The com ination with a lamp bracket for a lamp of the class described, of a shiftable mask having a series of horizontally located openings and'thereover means for preventing the escape of the upwardly projecting rays of light and thereb the lare of the lamp and secured to sai brac et exteriorly and in front of the lamp, means for shifting said mask away from the lamp, and

means for returning it to its initial position.

16. The combination with a lamp bracket or supportin means for a lamp of the class described, 0 an adjustable mask having means for preventing the glare of the lamp and secured to said bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp, and means for securing said mask in any of its adjusted positions.

17. The combination with a lamp bracket for a lamp of the class described, of a shiftable and adjustable mask supported by the bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and having means for preventing the glare of such lamp and comprising a disk having a series of downwardly inclined louvers, and means for securing the mask in any of its adjusted positions.

18. The combination with a lamp bracket for a lamp of the.class described, of a swinging, adjustable and detachable mask secured to said bracket exteriorlv and in front of the lamp and having means for preventing the glare of the lamp, and means for securing said mask in any of its adjusted positions.

19. The combination with a lamp bracket or supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a mask having means for preventing the glare of the lamp and secured to said bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and adjustable toward and from the lamp, and means for securing it in its adjusted positions on said bracket.

20. The combination wit-h a lamp bracket or supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a mask having means for preventing the glare of the lamp and secured to said bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and adjustable relatively to such lamp up and down, and means for securing it in any of its adjusted positions.

21. The combination with a lamp bracket or supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a mask having means for preventin the glare of the lamp and secured to sai bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and adjustable in a lurality of intersecting planes, and means or securing it in any of its adjusted positions on said bracket.

22. The combination with a lamp bracket orsupporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a mask having means for preventing the glare of the lamp and secured to said bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and adjustable toward and from the lamp and up and down, and means for securing it in any of its adjusted positions on said bracket, said mask being supported on the bracket for swinging movement to one side of the lamp.

23. The combination with a lampbracket or supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a mask having means for preventing the glare of the lamp and secured to said bracket exteriorly and in front of the lamp and adjustable toward and from the lamp and up and down, means for securing it in'any of its adjusted positions on said bracket, said mask being supported on the bracket for swinging movement to one side of the lamp, means. or swinging said mask, and a spring for returning it to its initial position.

24. The combination with supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a swinging mask secured to said supporting means exteriorly and in front of the lamp and having means for preventing the glare of the lamp, and a spring and a stop for holding the mask in front of such lamp.

25. The combination with supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a swinging mask secured to said supporting means exteriorly and in front of the lamp and having means for preventing the glare of the lamp, a spring and a stop for bolding the mask in front of such lamp, and means for holding the mask away from the lamp.

26. The combination with supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a swinging mask secured to said supporting means exteriorly and in front of the lamp and having means for preventing the glare of the lamp, a spring and a stop for holding the mask in front of such lamp, and means for drawing and holding the mask away from the front of the lamp.

27. The combination with a vehicle having supporting means for a lamp of the class described, of a swinging mask secured to said supporting means exteriorly and in front of the lamp and constructed to permit the passage of the light therethrou gh and having means for preventing the glare of the lamp, means for holding the mask in front of such lamp, and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for swinging the mask away from the lamp.

. 28. .The combination with a vehicle having supporting means for a pair of lamps of the class described, of a pair of swinging masks secured to said supporting means each .exteriorly and in front of its lamp and each having a series of openings and thereover means for preventing the glare of the lamp, means for holding the masks in front of the lamps, and means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for simultaneously swinging both of said masks away from the lamps.

29. The combination with a vehicle having supporting means for a pair of lamps of the class described, of a pan of swinging masks secured to said supporting means each exteriorly and in front of its lamp and each having a series of openings and thereover means for preventing the glare of the lamp, means for holding the masks in front of the lamps, means adapted to be operated from the vehicle for simultaneously swinging both of said masks away from the lamps,

and means for returning such masks to their initial positions in front of the lamps.

30. A mask for a lamp for preventing the glare of the light and comprising a rela-fl tively fiat disk shaped member terminating in a reinforced rim in the plane of the body of such member and having a series of downwardly inclined louvers or members at-' I t'ached thereto.

31. A disk-shaped mask for a lamp for M prising a relatively flat member consisting of a rim, and a series of downwardly inclined louvers or members attached thereto, said rim having a reinforced edge and said inclined louvers being formed from a disk and attached to said rim.

32. The combination with a lamp bracket or support, of a mask for preventing the glare of the lamp attached to said support exteriorly and in front of the lamp and comprising a disk-shaped member consisting of a rim having a reinforced edge, and a series of downwardly inclined louvers or members attached thereto.

33. The combination with a lamp bracket or support, of a mask for preventing the glare of the lamp attached to said support exteriorly and in front of the lamp and comprising a disk-shaped member consisting of arim having a relnforced edge and a series of downwardly inclined louvers or members attached thereto, said mask being supported for swinging movement away from the front of the lamp and for adjustment relatively to the lamp, and means for holding it away from the lamp and in any of its adjusted positions.

HAROLD D. PENNEY. CHESTER A. WEED.

.Witnesses: o

J. R. FRITH, F. E. Boron. 

